Tunneling-machine.



PATBNTEDI MAR. 26, 1907.

No; 348,107.v y

" J. 1. KARNS.

TUNNBLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1905.

M n o0 Z .zur

Unirse singes PATENT ormoni.

roi-1N P. KAnNs, or Boutens, eoLonAnojAssioNon To Tun J. P. KARNS ,TllNNELING MACHINE CO.,

F BOULDER, COLGRADO.

maustaste-,machines Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented March 26, 1907.

Application ne@ November 29,1905. semi No. 289,683.

B0ulder,in'the county of Boulder and State `of Colorado, have .invented a new and useful Tunnelin Machine, of which the following is a speci cation. I

, invention relates to tunneling-machines, and especiallyto apparatus of that ro class.'employed for driving tunnels, drifts,

air-courses, and the 4like for mining and `other purposes.V

- The principal'object ofthe invention is to provide a device of this class which may be 'operated to rapidly out a assage suffic lently lar e'to permit the .driving mechanisi'n to fo low and' which may be subsequently used as a tunnel or air-course.

A. further object ofthe invention is to construct a drilling-head of large diameter carrying bitsfor cutters and to so construct and mount the same that it may be manipulated in'tli'es'aine manner as an ordinary-small drill. 'l further object of the. invention is to provide adevice of this class in whichthe mechfor revolving thev drill-carrying head is arranged close to said head for the urpose of reducing strain on. the shaft and, urther, to provide a turning. means which may be adjusted as :the head advances independently of the drill-actuating mechanism.

A further object ofthe invention isto provide a device of this type in which the drillhead is mounted on a shoe or shield of simple construction and so .arranged as to permit free4 rotation and'reciprocating movement of the head.

A still further object ofthe invention is to provide an improved means for supporting and securing the cutters or bits in place. i

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invent-ion consists incertain novel features of construction and arrangement' of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in vthe accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form',

structure may be made wit-hout departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

ed. Fig. 8 is a similar slight modification of the proportions, size, and minor details of the.

' tapered flanges or lugs 18,

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tunneling machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Figi,- 2 is a face view ofthe same. F10'. 3 1s a longitudinal sectionalelevation of the maf' eliiiie on the line 3 3 of Fig.l 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of a portion of the drill-head-turning mechanism on the 4line 4 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail perspective vieW of a portion of the periphery of the main drillhead detached. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective .view of one of the-bits .or cutters ofthe main head. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the. adjustable drillcarrying shoe, showing one of the' antifriction-balls and the manner in which the same is mountview illustrating a structure. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view rim of the bit-carrying head, showing the manner in which the diagonally-disposed bits o1', cutters are mounted'. Fig. 10 is a sectional view corresponding to Fi' and illustrating the employment of bits o modified construction.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The main drill-head 10 is circular in form and includes a pair of concentric rings 11 and 12 united by radially-disposed arms or spokes 13, and an inwardly-extendingmarginal flange 14, all of which are preferably formed integrahand at the 4central ortion` of the head 1s arranged a shaft or hu member 15, which preferably is formed of a separate ieee of .metal firmly' secured to the head, its forward end projecting some distance beyond the -forward face of the head and its rear end being provided with helicallydisposed grooves 163 of the character commonly employed in power-drills.

The forward face of the main head is provided'with a plurality of grooves for the ref of a portion of the ception of bits or cutters, the main cutters" 17 being of the type shown in Fig. 6 and eX- tending from the inner edge of the innerl Vring 11 to a pointl beyond the periphery of the ring 12 and flange 14, the outer ends of said bits or cutters being backed by small that are formed integral with the head and roject frm the periphery of the ring 12.

IOO

ach of the .bits

zov

or cutters 17 is arranged Within a radial ing a rifled opening for the passage of the groove 19, formed in the-forward face of the l rifled portion 16 of the shaft, and engaging head, and the rear edge of the bit or cutter is reduced-in thickness for the greater portion of its length, forming a flange 20, thatl fits within the groove, While thatportion of the bit which extends beyond the periphery of the ring 12 is of the full thickness ofthe bit and is supported-by the flange or lug 18. The forward face of the drill-head is further provided with lugs 22, which fit snugly against one side of eachof the bits or cutters and serve to reinforce the same during the revoluble movement of the head. y A

In the rear portion of each of the bitsor cutters 17 is arranged a pair of slots 23, at the inner ends of which are enlarged pockets 25, the latter beingdesigned for the reception of the rectangular heads 26 of securingbolts 27, that pass through suitable openings formed in the headv and attheir'rear threaded ends are enlarged by nuts 28, which are Within convenient :reach ofthe operator. The bits or cutters are so su ported .that ,com arativelylittlestrain Wil be exerted on t e bolts, andthe latter are not subjected to Wear nordanger of breakage, sothat they are ready for use when it/becomes necessary to replace'rvornfor broken b its.

The radialbits are arranged in groups, and between these are vdisposed groupsl of inclined bits or cutters 29, .the rear faces of which are fitted in suitable grooves formed in both the ringand spokes of the head.-

The'forward end of the shaft orfhub 15 is provided withinters'ecting grooves at its inner end, and in-said grooves are arranged central bits or cutters 32, the cutters being of a length greater thanthe diameter of the shaft or hub and being arranged. to ycut their Way into the 'rock or other material inadvance of the remaining bits orcutters of the head, so that-a circular pocket is formed. in the'rock or other material, and such pockets serve to .some err-tent as `advanced bearings for the ,'vshaft. ;or hub and; permits relatively free rotative movement-of the main head. These bits may bel of any suitableconstruction and held-:in lace in' any manner commonly. employed mfthe art.

The outenend; of' the shaft 15 is connected in' any' suitable manner to an operating mechanismJ ley-Which reciprocatory movement may be imparted to 'said shaft and head.

Extending aroundthe grooved or rifled portion- 16.01L the4 shaft, at a point adjacent to the.drill-head, is a cylindrical casing 36',

having a removahle'head 37, secured in place in any suitable manner, lFrom this casing extend arms 37', that are provided at their outer ends with jack-screws 38, which may be turned to engage against the tunnel-wall,'

and thus hold the casing from m vement. This casmg contains a ratchet-Wheel 39, havthe teeth of the ratchet-wheel is, a series of spring-pressed pawls 40, which permit free rotative movement of the ratchet-wheel during forward or active movement of the shaft 15 and the drill-head. During the return movement of the shaft and drill-head the pawls 40 hold the ratchet-wheel from movement, and the shaft is therefore com elled to rotate to a slight extent, turnimlr t e drillhead the proper distance in -'readiness for a fresh forward stroke.

By arran ing the rotating mechanism close to the .rill-head the shaft is relieved of ,strain to some extent, and the turning mechanism acts also as a partial support for the shaft and the drill-head, so that the latter may turn mnre freely than Where the rotating mechanism is contained Within or is adjacent to the` engine. The casin further serves as a guide for the shaft and rill-head and prevents lateral play in case the character of the material being drilled changes during the drilling operation.

In order to provide for the free turninf.r movement of the drill-head and at. the same time permit its reciprocatory movement, a pair of supporting-shoes 42 are, employed, said -shoes being arcuate in form and bein connected by a bar 43, as shown in Fig. l. Each of the shoes comprises a pair of curved plates 44 and 45, which are secured together by bolts46, and both plates are provided ,with small rollers 47 to permit the moving forward of the shoes as the drilling operation progresses. he uppermost shoe 44 carries a large number.y of antifriction-balls 48, on which the drill-head is free to revolve and .to reciprocate. These balls are preferably supported in the manner shown in Fig. T. each ball being placed on a number of smaller balls 49 in a curved recess formed in a liardened plate 50, that is seated in a suitable threaded opening formed in the plate 44, and into said threaded opening is screwed an inverted cup 51, which confines the balls and their supports in place without interfering with free rotative movement of the main antifriction-ball. Leading from the bottom of the cup-shaped, depression in which the smaller balls are arranged is an opening 52 to permit the passage of dirt or moisture.

In Fig. 8 is illustrated a slightly-modified construction, in which the supporting-block 50 is confined in place by a cap 53, which is secured to the shoe 44 b y bolts 54.

the bits or cutters 17 extend somewhat beyond the peripheral line of the flange 14, this being for the purpose of cutting an opening somewhat larger than thedrill-head to perlOO lt vf'ill -be observed that the outer ends of mit the ready rotation of the head withoutfrictional contact with the side walls of the jecting armsLjack-screws arranged in the tunnel. In order to assist the 'outer cutters, a number of diagonally-dis osed bits or cutters 55 are employed" these its orcutters being adapted to suitable aiding-openings 55 in the outer ring 12 andeing adjustable longitudinally b means of set-screws 56, so that the bit may e gradually forced out as it bef comes Worn. To assist in holding the bits in place, Wedges 40 are lemployed, these'being driven into portions of the bit-receiving openin s and locked in position by set-screws 60.

n operatin the device the drill-head is mounted on t e shoes and reciprocated at any desiredspeed, the inaterialdetached by the bits being removed by a stream of Water directed throu h the open 'spaces between the rings and t e spokes of the cutter-head. At each rearward movement the drill-head is rotated to some extent in orderthat the bits ma? attack successively fresh portions of the roer ori other material. The shoes may be adjusted from time to time during the progress of the drilling operation in order to support the head.

In Fig. 10 is illustrated a slight modification of the invention, wherein .the bits are arranged on curved or inclined lines extending across the main head, those portions of the bits nearer the center of the head being in advance. in order to facilitate the cutting operation.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is- 1 In a tunnelin machina the combination with a revolub e bit-carrying head, of a rifled shaft connected thereto, a casing surrounding the shaft at apoint adjacent to the head and having diametrically-opposed proarms and deslgned for engagement vwith the i .head members entered in said tunnel-Wall, a ratchet-Wheel arrang'ged'within the casing and havin an opening for'the assage of the rifled sha t, and a paWl carrie by the casing and engaging the ratchet-Wheel;`

. 2. In a tunneling machine, a revoluble head having radial slots in its forward face, and cutting-bits having their rear edges fitted within the slots, the forward face of the head having shoulders bearing against the sides of -machine, a revoluble sCv through the head and having rectangular ocketed recesses, and clamping-nuts on said bolts.

5. In-.a tunne'lingmachine, a revoluble head having bitfreceiving slots, cutting-bits disposed Within the slots and extending beyond the peripheral line of thehead, andradial flanges or lugs carried by the head and serving to reinforce or back the portions of the bits.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn I have hereto affixed my signature in projecting the presence of'tWo Witnesses.

4 JOHN P. xARNsL Vi'tnesses: l

C. E. DOYLE, FRANK S. ArPLEMAN. 

